Pregnant women’s awareness, knowledge and beliefs about pelvic floor muscles: a cross-sectional survey

Introduction and hypothesis: Pregnant women benefit from completing pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs). The aims of the study were to evaluate pregnant women’s levels of awareness, knowledge, and beliefs about the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) and PFMEs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Respondents were pregnant women over the age of 18 years who attended antenatal clinics in Western Australia (WA). Questionnaire items measured awareness and knowledge about PFMs, confidence and beliefs about engaging in PFMEs, and attendance at antenatal education (ANE) classes. Chi-squared tests examined potential associations between questionnaire items and respondent characteristics. Results: Mean gestation of respondents (n = 633 out of 850; 74% response rate) was 28.7 (+7.8) weeks and 50% were giving birth for the first time. Although 76% of respondents knew that PFMs can prevent urinary incontinence, only 27% knew that they prevented faecal incontinence and 41% thought it was normal to leak urine when pregnant. Only n = 72 (11%) were practicing PFMEs. Respondents who had attended ANE (28%) were significantly more knowledgeable about pelvic floor function (p < .001) and significantly less likely to believe that leaking urine during pregnancy was normal (p = 0.02), compared with those who had not attended ANE. Respondents who did not speak English at home (18%) were significantly less knowledgeable about PFMs and PFMEs, and significantly less likely to have attended, or planned to attend, ANE classes. Conclusion: Pregnant women require more health education regarding PFMs. Education should be provided using diverse modes, especially for women from migrant backgrounds and women who do not plan to attend formal ANE classes

Urinary incontinence related to perineal muscle strength in the first trimester of pregnancy: cross-sectional study

Objective To analyze pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), urinary continence and quality of life related to urinary incontinence (UI) of women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Method Cross-sectional study with a sample of 500 women who started prenatal care in a complementary healthcare facility in Guarulhos, state of São Paulo, from 2012 and 2013. Pelvic floor muscle strength was evaluated through perineometry. The pregnant women who presented UI answered the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Results It was found that maternal age (OR=1.06; CI95% 1.02-1.11) and prior UI (OR=15.12; 95%CI 8.19-27.92) are the variables that, in tandem, best explain the occurrence of UI at the beginning of pregnancy. The mean score on the ICIQ-SF was 8.2 (SD=3.9), considered a moderate impact on quality of life. Conclusion Older pregnant women with prior UI are more likely to have UI in the first trimester of pregnancy.
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Modeling of in-utero and intra-partum transmissions to evaluate the efficacy of interventions for the prevention of perinatal HIV

Background Antiretroviral treatments decrease HIV mother-to-child transmission through pre/post exposure prophylaxis and reduction of maternal viral load. We modeled in-utero and intra-partum HIV transmissions to investigate the preventive role of various antiretroviral treatments interventions. Methods We analysed data from 3,759 women-infant pairs enrolled in 3 randomized clinical trials evaluating (1) zidovudine monotherapy, (2) zidovudine plus perinatal single-dose nevirapine or (3) zidovudine plus lopinavir/ritonavir for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Thailand. All infants were formula-fed. Non-linear mixed effect modeling was used to express the viral load evolution under antiretroviral treatments and the probability of transmission. Results Median viral load was 4 log(10) copies/mL (Interquartile range: 3.36-4.56) before antiretroviral treatments initiation. An Emaxmodel described the viral load time-course during pregnancy. Half of the maximum effect of zidovudine (28% decrease) and lopinavir/ritonavir (72% decrease) were achieved after 98 and 12 days, respectively. Adjusted on viral load at baseline (Odds ratio = 1.50 [95% confidence interval: 1.34, 1.68] per log(10) copies/mL increment), anti-retroviral treatments duration (OR = 0.80 [0.75, 0.84] per week increment) but not the nature of antiretroviral treatments were associated with in-utero transmission. Adjusted on gestational age at delivery (<37 weeks, OR = 2.37 [1.37, 4.10]), baseline CD4 (Odds ratio = 0.79 [0.72, 0.88] per 100 cells/mm(3) increment) and predicted viral load at delivery (OR = 1.47 [1.25, 1.64] per log(10) copies/mL increment), single-dose nevirapine considerably reduced intra-partum transmission (OR = 0.32 [0.2, 0.51]). Conclusion These models determined the respective contributions of various antiretroviral strategies on prevention of mother-to-child transmission. This can help predict the efficacy of new antiretroviral treatments and/or prevention of mother-to-child transmission strategies particularly for women with no or late antenatal care who are at high risk of transmitting HIV to their offspring

Associated factors to urinary incontinence in women undergoing urodynamic testing

OBJETIVO Analisar os fatores associados à Incontinência Urinária (IU) entre mulheres submetidas a estudo urodinâmico. MÉTODO Estudo transversal realizado com 150 mulheres atendidas em um centro urológico. Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística uni e multivariada. RESULTADOS Mulheres brancas (79,3%), com sobrepeso (45,3%), na menopausa (53,3%), que ingeriam café (82,7%), sedentárias (65,3%), que fizeram parto normal (51,4%), com episiotomia (80%), que sofreram Manobra de Kristeller (69%). 60,7% apresentavam HipermobilidadeUretral (HU).Houve associação estatística entre: mudança de peso e HU (p=0,024); menopausa,Deficiência Esfincteriana Intrínseca (DEI) e Instabilidade Detrusora (ID) (p=0,001); cirurgia ginecológica, DEI e ID (p=0,014); histerectomia etodos os tipos de IU (p=0,040); realização de atividade física eIU mista (p=0,014). CONCLUSÃO Intervenções e orientações quanto à prevenção da IU e ao fortalecimento da musculatura pélvica devem ser voltadas amulheres que apresentam mudança de peso, sedentárias, que se encontram na menopausa e àquelas que realizaram histerectomia ou outra cirurgia ginecológica. São necessários estudos sobre métodos de fortalecimento pélvico, de modo a contemplar o perfil dasnecessidades apresentadaspelas mulheres.OBJETIVO Analizar los factores asociados con la Incontinencia Urinaria (IU) entre mujeres sometidas al estudio urodinámico MÉTODO Estudio transversal llevado a cabo con 150 mujeres atendidas en un centro urológico. Los datos fueron analizados por medio de estadística uni y multivariada. RESULTADOS Mujeres blancas (79,3%), con sobrepeso (45,3%), en la menopausia (53,3%), que ingerían café (82,7%), sedentarias (65,3%), que tuvieron parto normal (51,4%), con episiotomía (80%), que sufrieron Maniobra de Kristeller (69%), el 60,7% presentaban Hipermovilidad Uretral (HU). Hubo asociación estadística entre: cambio de peso e HU (p = 0,024); menopausia, Deficiencia Intrínseca del Esfínter (DIE)e Inestabilidad del Detrusor (ID) (p = 0,001); cirugía ginecológica, DIE e ID (p = 0,014); histerectomía y todos los tipos de IU (p = 0,040); realización de actividad física e IU mixta (p = 0,014). CONCLUSIÓN Intervenciones y orientaciones en cuanto a la prevención de la IU y al fortalecimiento de la musculatura pélvica deben dirigirse a mujeres que presentan cambio de peso, sedentarias, que se hallan en la menopausia y las que realizaron histerectomía u otra cirugía ginecológica. Son necesarios estudios sobre métodos de fortalecimiento pélvico, de modo a contemplar el perfil de las necesidades presentadas por las mujeres.OBJECTIVE Analyzing factors associated with urinary incontinence (UI) among women submitted to urodynamic testing. METHOD A cross-sectional study of 150 women attended at a urological center. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistics. RESULTS White women (79.3%), overweight (45.3%), menopausal (53.3%), who drink coffee (82.7%), sedentary (65.3%), who had vaginal birth (51.4%), with episiotomy (80%), and who underwent the Kristeller maneuver (69%). 60.7% had Urethral Hypermobility (UH). A statistical association was found between: weight change and UH (p = 0.024); menopause, Intrinsic Sphincter Deficiency (ISD) and Detrusor Instability (DI) (p = 0.001); gynecological surgery, ISD and DI (p = 0.014); hysterectomy and all types of UI (p = 0.040); physical activity and mixed UI (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION Interventions and guidance on preventing UI and strengthening pelvic muscles should be directed at women who present weight changes, who are sedentary menopausal women, and those who have undergone hysterectomy or other gynecological surgery. Studies on pelvic strengthening methods are needed in order to take into account the profile of the needs presented by women